IHC’s Esyasoft to build USD 480 mn smart gas network in Azerbaijan: Azerigas, a subsidiary of Azerbaijan’s state oil company Socar, has signed a contract with IHC-backed tech company Esyasoft Investment Holding to design, build, and operate a smart gas network in Azerbaijan, the country’s state news agency Azertag reports. The 14-year project, backed by USD 480 mn in investments, includes installing 2.5 mn smart meters, AI integration, and creating a control center and digital solutions lab.

Background: Socar had signed a 13-year agreement at COP29 in Baku last year with IntelliGrid — a joint venture between Esyasoft and Presight AI — to deploy a smart gas grid management system across the Azerigas network. The initiative aims to modernize Azerbaijan’s gas infrastructure through AI-driven predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring, and emissions reduction.

It also comes only a week after a broader economic partnership was inked with Azerbaijan. The partnership will see the two countries boost investment flows and cooperate across sectors like renewables, tourism, logistics, and construction.

Energy ties between the two in particular are strong: Azerbaijan’s State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) previously invested USD 50 mn in Adnoc’s gas pipeline unit, Adnoc Gas Pipeline Assets, earlier this year, and Masdar is planning a 240 MW Absheron-Garadagh onshore wind farm in Azerbaijan as part of a a pipeline of 10 GW of clear energy capacity in Azerbaijan.

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